Chapter 2
Crew composition

2.1 Flight crew

The minimum flight crew is two pilots, at least one of whom must be a Captain. In addition, a safety pilot fully qualified to operate in the right seat must be carried for base training and line flying under supervision until positive release.

The maximum age for a pilot is 65. Not more than one pilot may be aged 60 years or more. Pilots with Operational Medical Limitations must not fly together and must not fly with pilots aged 60 years or greater.

Inexperienced (***) flight crew must not operate together. To be considered experienced, crew must have completed 100 flight hours and 50 sectors within 120 days of final line check or 150 flight hours and 50 sectors after final line check without time limit. A Captain, in addition, must successfully complete their first recurrent simulator session and a first officer must complete a continuation training flight.

At least one flight crew member must be present for boarding.

The minimum crew for taxiing is a Commander and a second pilot, both qualified on type.

The commander must sit in the left seat unless required to command from the right seat in order to conduct a training detail. Captains may only operate from the right seat if they have undergone specific training and recurrency checks (see eom 4.2.2).

[ eoma 4.1.1, eoma 4.2 ]

2.2 Cabin crew

The minimum cabin crew is 5 for the A321, 4 for the A320 and standard A319, or 3 for an A319 with row 26 removed or seat blockers fitted. Cabin crew are not required if operating a non-commercial flight with less than 19 passengers.

One Cabin Crew member will be nominated by the company as Senior Cabin Crew Member.

Cabin crew are considered inexperienced (i.e. ***) until they have completed 40 sectors (or 20 sectors with caveats) as operating crew. A maximum of two *** cabin crew may operate together, each being placed at opposite ends of the cabin. CC5 must not be *** on the A321, and only one *** is allowed for A319 three cabin crew operations.

In extreme circumstances the cabin crew complement may be reduced by one providing:

1. At least 3 cabin crew will be operating, only one of whom may be ***.
2. Authorisation is received from the Network Duty Manager.
3. The aircraft does not dispatch from its originating base.
4. The aircraft only operates its originally planned series of flights; this may include stops at non-originating easyjet bases and/or a nightstop.
5. A maximum of 50 passengers, not including infants, per cabin crew member are carried.¹
6. All passengers are seated in a position where they can adequately view the safety demonstration.
7. If required, the commander may nominate a new SCCM, provided the nominee has a minimum of 12 months operational experience and at least 20 sectors on type.
8. An ASR and a CSR are completed to report the circumstances of the reduction.

In general, cabin crew who have become unfit to fly should be offloaded. Under extraordinary circumstances, the commander may elect to repatriate the cabin crew member.

If applicable, it is permissible to board without CC4 provided that:

1. A maximum of 50 passengers per cabin crew member are boarded.
2. A member of the flight crew is on the flight deck.
3. The aircraft is not being fuelled or de-fuelled, and electrical power is available.
4. A qualified SCCM is present at forward door, CC2 is present at rear door and CC3 is present in the middle of the cabin, taking responsibility for the overwings. For A321, CC5 must be present at the mid emergency exits.

Alternatively, it is permitted to prepare the aircraft, carry out pre-flight safety and security checks and board with the assistance of a non-operating crew member. The non-operating crew member must be qualified on type and fit to fly. If not in uniform, a high visability vest must be worn and a PA made to inform the passengers that the crew member is part of the operating crew during boarding. The SCCM must brief the non-operating crew member on their required duties and their door responsibility during boarding, but they do not need to have taken part in the pre-flight brief. They must remain with the aircraft until the rostered crew member arrives and has been suitably briefed.

[ eom-a 4.1.3, eom-a 4.1.4 ]

2.3 Positioning crew

Positioning crew will normally be booked as passengers, although in exceptional circumstances staff may be carried as “non-operating extra crew”. This requires the authorisation of the duty pilot or the Network Duty Manager. In this case, crew must be shown on the crew list.

Crew positioning for a flight duty may ramp transfer or remain on aircraft as appropriate.

Crew positioning for a non-flight duty and entering the UK must pass through normal passenger channels and present themselves at immigration control. Otherwise crew positioning for a non-flight duty may use crew check-in/ check-out procedures provided that they do not carry any goods that need to clear customs. If booked as a passenger, they must have a valid boarding pass.

[ eom-a 4.5, eom-a 4.6 ]

2.4 Inspectors and Auditors

Flight Ops Inspectors may, at any time, board any easyJet aircraft and enter and remain on the flight deck unless it is the commander’s opinion that this would endanger the safety of the aircraft.

easyJet Compliance Monitoring Auditors may also from time to time fly on easyJet aircraft to conduct a flight inspection.

eoma 8.3.13 lists documentation and procedures for allowing persons other than operating crew access to the flight deck.

[ eom-a 4.7/8 ]